The acid-catalysed hydrolysis of O-methyl dimethylthiophosphinate. Direct evidence for pentaco-ordinate intermediate formation in the conversion of the PS ester into the PO ester

Abstract

Hydrolysis of the title compound in strong acid leads not only to the phosphinic acid but also to methyl dimethylphosphinate which could only be formed by the intermediacy of a pentaco-ordinate species.